Dubai International has racked up another month of double-digit growth with 18.9 per cent increase in passenger numbers recorded in May, according to a traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports.

Passenger traffic in May reached 5,218,832, an increase of 18.9 per cent compared to 4,388,614 during the corresponding month in 2012.

With May being the sixth consecutive month the airport has recorded passenger numbers exceeding five million, the year to date traffic is up 16.8 per cent to 27,124,195 compared to 23,216,893 during the first five months of 2012.

As a result of Emirates airline’s and flydubai’s expanding network, Western Europe topped the list of regions with the largest increase in total passenger numbers ( up 208,393), followed by the AGCC (up 189,810), and the Indian sub-continent (up 131,364).

Following the launch of flights by Qantas in May after the airline’s tie-up with Emirates, Australia was the fastest growing destination with 50 per cent growth in traffic and Saudi Arabia a close second (40 per cent) thanks to the post liberalisation boom in the Kingdom’s aviation sector.

“We have managed ten straight months of double-digit growth but it is going to get busier as the annual summer travel season coincides with the holy month of Ramadan.

“In anticipation of the rush we have launched a number of initiatives, including rerouting some of the ground transportation and increasing the airport’s seating capacity,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive, Dubai Airports.

As part of the move, all buses will be rerouted to the car-park check-in to free up the forecourt at Terminal 3, while seating at Concourse B has been increased by 30 per cent.

Dubai Airports has also increased the number of the recently introduced Smart eGates at Terminal 3 and automatic tray return machines have been introduced at security check areas with a view to ease the flow of passengers.